Dress up

Luke loves to dress himself right now, and his absolute favorite is dressing up - usually as a fireman. However, layers are also very popular as you can see from the photos below.

We were cracking up! He wore this get-up for a good hour, at least. It consisted of his regular outfit for the day (shorts and a polo), a fireman raincoat, train engineer overalls, rain boots, adidas warm up pants, a Yankees backpack and ball cap, a fireman helmet, and pair of binoculars. Oh, and he also happened to be wearing his eye patch when he selected this outfit (he wears a patch on his right eye for 1.5-2 hours each day to strengthen his left eye and equalize his vision. When one eye sees better than the other, the weak eye tends to not be used, and eventually the brain can start to "shut off" the images from the weaker eye ... so we are working towards equal vision in both eyes).

And, of course, my little diva can hardly stand it when Mommy is taking pictures of Luke and not her ... so in an effort to not be overlooked or otherwise outdone she did some posing while shouting "CHEESE" at me!

Never a dull moment...

The Package Man!

We love "the package man" (aka: UPS) around here. He delivers very regularly (Mommy enjoys her online shopping ... a LOT), and he's been here nearly everday this week leading up to the big 4th birthday this weekend.

Today's delivery came from the Zylas in New Jersey. Not entirely sure if they even needed to send gifts since the kids seemed to be quite entertained and completely happy with the bubble wrap!

Popsicles

Such a perfect summertime treat...this was Mia's first

Picnic time

Mommy and Daddy decided that it was high time for the kids to start eating outside on a regular basis and as often as possible, so they are the proud owners of a new picnic table.

First dinner on the new table

We know that this will be something they will enjoy for years to come (and so will we since Brooklyn is happy to sweep up after they are done instead of Mommy mopping the floor every day!)

Happiness at Happy Hollow

It has been a while since our last visit to Happy Hollow. It was so much fun to go again this week with Jess, Aidan, and Bailey. The kids had a ton of fun, and I loved watching Mia really enjoy this special place for the first time. She was able to explore, ride most of the rides, and even cried in protest when we had to get off of some of them. Her favorite, no surprise: visiting the animals.

Luke really rose to his nearly four-year-old status. He was as brave as I've ever seen him - riding all of his favorites, trying new ones that Aidan suggested, and choosing (insisting) that he ride alone on the roller coaster with Aidan - and in the very front car at that(!). Luke really enjoying hanging with big boy Aidan ... and Aidan is really sweet to him.

A ride on the carousel to start off the day

Next up: the roller coaster. Here are the boys standing in line to wait to get on. The operator must have measured Luke 3 times to be sure he was tall enough to ride alone - he was...just barely

Danny the Dragon train ride - both Mia and Bailey wanted to stay on for another ride.

Some time to run around the playground area ... and for Bailey to slide, slide, slide

Bailey and Mia cruising in the fire truck

The ladybug ride. Bailey ended up riding alone on this one since Mia threw a little fit and wouldn't sit in it ... and then she spent the rest of the ride moaning at the gate to be let in (so typical)

Exhaustion is beginning to set in

Luke had never been on these before, but after just a little instruction from Aidan, he was cruising around the track. Thanks, Aidan!

After a lunch break we visited the zoo. Monkeys were the favorite.

And then the petting zoo

And finally, a last ride on the carousel before heading home

Such a fun day! Thanks Jess, Aidan, and Bailey for joining us!

Hangin' Poolside

We have been spending a TON of time at the SJCC pool in recent weeks.

Luke is a total fish in the water and becoming more and more comfortable all the time. He loves to swim around, diving for the toys in the shallow end, jumping off of the diving board (now by himself) with his tube, jumping off of the side without a tube, and being thrown up in the air by Paw. I am amazed at how far he has come since last summer. Mia is also very comfortable in the water and loves for us to help her scoot along on her tummy or float on her back.

Swimming with a new friend

Check out that form!

Diving board time!

Luke has become such a "regular" that he now has other "regulars" who he meets at the pool :)! Lily is one of his older friends who he likes hanging out with. As you can see, Mia is a fan of Lily as well!

We usually go around noon, swim a bit, have some lunch, and then swim a bit more. I take Mia home at that point, and Luke often stays to swim some more with Paw. Such fun - loving the summer days!

Mia enjoying the flowers as we get ready to head home for nap

Happy 4th of July!

We spent the 4th this year down at Uncle Todd and Michelle's. It was a beautiful day - perfect, really. Brooklyn had been with them while we were away on the East Coast, so it was an opportunity to also pick up our very tired doggie. She absolutely loves being with Todd and Michelle, and especially her boyfriend/cousin, Cosmo. She seriously sleeps for days when she comes home ... I think it's part just being exhausted from all of the exercise, and part depressed because she misses being with Cosmo.

Mia was very, very happy to be reunited with her dog, though.

Luke was thrilled that there were cherries at the party (his summertime fave!).

And Uncle Todd is an expert in child-entertainment. On this day, buckets and tubs filled with water and balloon rockets were the hits!

As Uncle Todd would say, "Straight bronzing"

4th of July fun and treats with Day and Paw

What typically happens to Daddy after he spends the day with Uncle Todd

Happy Independence Day!

Flying

Cousin Love

We tried. We really tried to take a "good" picture of the cousins all together. It didn't work. Well, not really. Then again, this is how they were ... and that's good enough for me.

I love that these photos tell the story of their day together. I love how they so accurately depict the friendship between Luke and Jacqueline.

When I look at these my heart hurts that they don't live closer, but makes me that much more grateful for the precious times when they are together.

Love them all.

Chaos


Laughter

Boys

Chatting

Sweet cousins